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Auto alternatives for the 21st centuryFri, 09 Dec 2016 17:34:46 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.4Oregon Set To Implement Per-Mile Road Usage Taxhttp://www.hybridcars.com/oregon-set-to-implement-per-mile-road-usage-tax/
http://www.hybridcars.com/oregon-set-to-implement-per-mile-road-usage-tax/#commentsFri, 22 May 2015 14:55:12 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=300002Oregon is aiming to become the first state in the nation with a per-mile usage tax. The state is currently preparing a program designed to help raise more revenue to support road and bridge projects. Across the country, gasoline taxes are declining as more vehicle owners turn to fuel efficient hybrids and electric vehicles, which […]

]]>Oregon is aiming to become the first state in the nation with a per-mile usage tax.

The state is currently preparing a program designed to help raise more revenue to support road and bridge projects. Across the country, gasoline taxes are declining as more vehicle owners turn to fuel efficient hybrids and electric vehicles, which has caused states to look for new ways to generate revenue.

Reports of Oregon implementing a per-mile road tax originally surfaced in March and starting July 1 up to 5,000 volunteers in the state can sign up to drive with devices that collect data on how many miles they’ve driven. Those volunteers will have to agree to paying 1.5 cents per mile traveled on public roads within Oregon, instead of the current gas tax.

The decision has been controversial with current hybrid and electric vehicle owners as they feel that it’s discriminatory and targets electrified vehicles. State officials believe that it’s only fair that owners of green vehicles are charged for maintaining roads, just as gasoline-vehicle owners are. The current gas tax makes up less than half of the money in Oregon’s highway fund and the state’s share of the fuel tax over the past 20 years has been mostly flat, declining in some years.

The trial program will be called OreGo and will be open to all car types although no more than 1,500 participants can have vehicles that get less than 17 mpg. No more than 1,500 must get at least 17 mpg and less than 22 mpg. Volunteers for the OreGo program will still pay the gas tax at the pump, but will receive either a credit or a bill for the difference in gas taxes paid.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/oregon-set-to-implement-per-mile-road-usage-tax/feed/02015 Fiat 500e Available In Oregon And Californiahttp://www.hybridcars.com/2015-fiat-500e-available-in-oregon-and-california/
http://www.hybridcars.com/2015-fiat-500e-available-in-oregon-and-california/#commentsWed, 24 Sep 2014 04:05:11 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=196274Fiat’s fully electric 2015 500e is now available in California and Oregon. Fiat said the 500e is available for $199 a month for 36 months with $999 due at signing. Sales of the Fiat 500e expanded to Oregon earlier this year; the all-electric Fiat had been sold only in California since its introduction in 2013. […]

]]>Fiat’s fully electric 2015 500e is now available in California and Oregon.

Fiat said the 500e is available for $199 a month for 36 months with $999 due at signing.

Sales of the Fiat 500e expanded to Oregon earlier this year; the all-electric Fiat had been sold only in California since its introduction in 2013.

“Bringing the Fiat 500e to Oregon gives more customers in this environmentally minded state the opportunity to enjoy the Italian style and engaging driving dynamics of the Fiat 500, but with zero tailpipe emissions,” said Jason Stoicevich, Head of Fiat Brand for North America, Chrysler Group LLC.

For 2015, the Fiat 500e has a redesigned center console, with a new cup holder design and an additional USB port that is integrated with the radio. Two paint colors have been added for the 2015 model-year vehicles for a total of seven available exterior paint colors. The new colors are Luce Blu (light blue with a pearl finish) and Celeste (light blue).

To help alleviate range anxiety, Fiat has conceived an alternative transportation program for owners of the 500e. For times when a 500e customer needs to drive beyond the vehicle’s range or needs the carrying capability of a larger vehicle, the Fiat 500e lease provides an alternative transportation plan called the Fiat 500e Pass program.

Fiat said it partnered with Enterprise Holdings, owner and operator of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo Rent A Car, and National Car Rental brands, on the Fiat 500e Pass program, providing purchasers and lessees of a new 500e up to 12 days of alternate transportation each year for the first three years after the date of purchase.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/2015-fiat-500e-available-in-oregon-and-california/feed/0North American LNG Sent To Asiahttp://www.hybridcars.com/north-american-lng-sent-to-asia/
http://www.hybridcars.com/north-american-lng-sent-to-asia/#commentsTue, 05 Aug 2014 12:39:13 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=175849Oregon LNG will be sending North American-sourced natural gas to Asia…Quite the change from the usual discourse of too much energy being imported. On July 31 the company received authorization from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries that do not have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with […]

]]>Oregon LNG will be sending North American-sourced natural gas to Asia…Quite the change from the usual discourse of too much energy being imported.

On July 31 the company received authorization from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries that do not have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the U.S.

Such an approval is important considering the popularity of LNG as a fuel for vehicles.

This approval comes notwithstanding recently announced modifications to DOE’s licensing review process and adds strong momentum to Oregon LNG’s project, which, the company said, is one of the most advanced in the review process conducted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

“We applaud the DoE decision which places Oregon LNG in a very small group of projects in North America that have received conditional DoE approval for non-FTA exports,” said Peter Hansen, Oregon LNG’s CEO. “This approval allows the largest Asian buyers to purchase from Oregon LNG, which already has authorization to ship to any of the 20 nations with which the U.S. has a FTA. DoE approval is an important step towards the development of a project that will improve energy security for many of our country’s key trading partners while simultaneously providing Oregon with significant economic benefits and growth opportunities.”

The company explained DOE FTA approval is a critical milestone in the multi-step approval process for licensing of an LNG project. The project has filed an application at FERC and is currently under NEPA review. Final approval by FERC and DOE, as well as other approvals, are necessary before the project can commence construction.

The Oregon LNG operation, said the company, will be the state’s largest property taxpayer, contributing approximately $60 million annually in new property tax revenues to help substantially increase funding for transportation infrastructure, education and other essential public services.

Canada’s National Energy Board recently authorized Oregon LNG to source from Canada the majority of the natural gas to be exported through the proposed terminal, which means that the Warrenton facility could be operated with little or no impact on the price or supply of U.S. natural gas. Oregon LNG added the project will have the lowest pipeline transportation cost from Canadian gas fields of any West Coast project.

LNG from US and Canadian West Coast projects will enjoy transportation costs to markets in North Asia that are only about one-third of the transportation cost from projects located on the Gulf of Mexico.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/north-american-lng-sent-to-asia/feed/0California: Hydrogen And Zero-Emission Vehicles Pushhttp://www.hybridcars.com/california-hydrogen-and-zero-emission-vehicles-push/
http://www.hybridcars.com/california-hydrogen-and-zero-emission-vehicles-push/#commentsFri, 01 Aug 2014 04:06:33 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=175009California is pushing even more for green cars and some of the state’s agencies are collaborating on a range of initiatives to support the goal of 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2025. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) said last week that the California Energy Commission carried out one of these initiatives, […]

]]>California is pushing even more for green cars and some of the state’s agencies are collaborating on a range of initiatives to support the goal of 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2025.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) said last week that the California Energy Commission carried out one of these initiatives, voting to use nearly $50 million to put in place 28 new, public hydrogen refueling stations and one mobile refueler by the end of 2015. The agency said the move was one of several actions designed to help achieve a key goal of the state’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) plan: to accelerate construction of hydrogen refueling infrastructure across the state.

“California is rolling out the carpet for Californians who choose these ultra-clean hydrogen powered electric cars and for the companies that make them,” said Air Resources Board Chairman Mary D. Nichols. “These private-public partnerships to build dozens of hydrogen fueling stations set the stage for hydrogen fuel cell electric cars to become commonplace on our streets and provide a new generation of long-range zero-emission vehicles for California consumers.”

The main goal is to help with clean air and climate challenges the state is facing.

“Making the transition to cleaner, lower polluting near-zero and zero-emission vehicles is a critical component to addressing California’s clean air and climate challenges. The transportation sector accounts for about 40 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions,” said Commissioner Janea A. Scott, the Energy Commission’s lead commissioner on transportation. “We are pleased to be part of this state collaboration and will continue to work diligently on standing up hydrogen fuel cells and other electric vehicle technologies.”

California working with many partners

The state’s effort to bring more fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) to the road and the infrastructure to fuel them features support from Toyota, station developers, the Fuel Cell Partnership, the Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission and GO-Biz, said CARB in a statement issues yesterday.

Honda has shown this concept signaling design intent for a replacement of its present FCX Clarity in 2015 or 2016.

GO-Biz is said to bring hands-on experience cutting through red tape, which will be used to get stations permitted and constructed in a timely manner. The Air Resources Board and Energy Commission said they provide the longest running state-level experience in the country when it comes to hydrogen vehicle and infrastructure development.

New money coming for hydrogen stations

Twenty hydrogen refueling stations have received funding from the Energy Commission and 28 more stations are scheduled:

There are currently 10 operational hydrogen refueling stations in California—the most recent opened in May 2014 on the CSU Los Angeles campus. With the announcement of Energy Commission funding for additional stations, California is slated to have 51 public hydrogen refueling facilities on line by 2017.

Two-hundred-million dollars in cap-and-trade proceeds has been allocated for low-carbon transportation projects, $116 million of which is slated for the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, providing up to $5,000 per vehicle.

CARB added to date the state has committed about $110 million to hydrogen infrastructure. This puts California on a glide path to 100 stations, the state’s goal for launching a commercially self-sustaining network to support a growing number of FCEVs.

Not only in California

A second initiative involves California joining two national programs organized by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop hydrogen infrastructure across the country, explained CARB.

Hyundai is ahead of Toyota and leasing its Tucson FCV this year.

First, the Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure Research and Station Technology (H2FIRST) project is led by the Sandia Laboratories and the Department of Energy’s National Energy Renewable Laboratory. By focusing on the national laboratories’ core capabilities, it is believed by CARB the effort will speed and support the widespread deployment of FCEVs.

The H2FIRST project will complement California’s second national partnership, H2USA. This public-private partnership brings together automakers, government agencies, gas suppliers, and the hydrogen and fuel cell industries to coordinate research and identify cost-effective ways to deploy infrastructure that can deliver affordable, clean hydrogen fuel in the United States, continued CARB.

East – West Collaboration

CARB added another initiative has California working with other states to harmonize regulations and building codes to ease the location and construction of refueling stations for hydrogen and electric vehicles. An eight-state ZEV Action Plan released last month lays the foundation to coordinate efforts among California, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Oregon, Massachusetts, Vermont and Rhode Island.

The goal of this collaborative effort is to put 3.3 million ZEVs on the highways in those states by 2025 with the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality and public health, while enhancing energy diversity, saving consumers money and promoting economic growth.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/california-hydrogen-and-zero-emission-vehicles-push/feed/0Nissan’s e-NV200 EV Being Tested In Portlandhttp://www.hybridcars.com/nissans-e-nv200-ev-being-tested-in-portland/
http://www.hybridcars.com/nissans-e-nv200-ev-being-tested-in-portland/#commentsFri, 13 Jun 2014 05:35:30 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=157649Portland has been announced by Nissan as the U.S. proving ground for its electric commercial vehicle, the Nissan e-NV200. Nissan said it is working in collaboration with Portland General Electric (PGE) on a six-week trial to help determine the viability of an electric commercial vehicle in the U.S market. PGE has assigned the e-NV200 into […]

]]>Portland has been announced by Nissan as the U.S. proving ground for its electric commercial vehicle, the Nissan e-NV200.

Nissan said it is working in collaboration with Portland General Electric (PGE) on a six-week trial to help determine the viability of an electric commercial vehicle in the U.S market. PGE has assigned the e-NV200 into its fleet of vehicles with an underground crew, replacing a larger, diesel-powered van.

“Oregon has been a top five market for Nissan Leaf sales in the U.S. due to proactive policies at the state level to encourage EV adoption, as well as robust charging infrastructure championed by the state and others like PGE,” said Toby Perry, Nissan’s director of EV Marketing in the U.S. “If we determine that e-NV200 fits into the U.S. commercial vehicle market, we expect that Portland would be a leading driver for sales as well.”

This year, Nissan added it is deploying two e-NV200 prototypes with companies such as PGE and FedEx in top U.S. EV markets including California, Georgia, Oregon and Washington, D.C. to determine how businesses could use an all-electric cargo van to meet their day-to-day requirements. Nissan believes companies replacing gas-powered vehicles with electric vehicles like e-NV200 could enjoy a substantial reduction in operating costs and vehicle maintenance, while lowering their vehicle emissions footprint.

“EVs have already demonstrated their value as a sustainable choice for personal use, and fleet electrification is the logical next step,” said Charlie Allcock, director, business development at PGE. “We’re excited to see firsthand the impact the e-NV200 can have on our own fleet and to help other companies understand the potential it represents for them.”

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/nissans-e-nv200-ev-being-tested-in-portland/feed/0Drive Oregon Grants $179,926 Towards EV Growthhttp://www.hybridcars.com/drive-oregon-grants-179926-towards-ev-growth/
http://www.hybridcars.com/drive-oregon-grants-179926-towards-ev-growth/#commentsMon, 04 Mar 2013 05:52:47 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=54697Oregon is seeing a wave of investments in electric vehicles these days. First was Zipcar buying Honda Fit EVs for its fleet, now it is Drive Oregon which announced grants recipients for EV development and research. Drive Oregon has announced its largest round of grants yet under its year-old Matching Grant program, designed to accelerate […]

]]>Oregon is seeing a wave of investments in electric vehicles these days.

First was Zipcar buying Honda Fit EVs for its fleet, now it is Drive Oregon which announced grants recipients for EV development and research.

Drive Oregon has announced its largest round of grants yet under its year-old Matching Grant program, designed to accelerate the growth of Oregon’s electric vehicle industry.

Drive Oregon said six projects were awarded a total of $179,926, and are as follow:

$50,000 will support purchase of an advanced dynamometer by Linn-Benton Community College as part of its Advanced Transportation Technology Center in Lebanon, Oregon.

$50,000 will fund Portland-based OpConnect to work with the City of Hillsboro to develop the innovative new GoPoint transportation system, which is currently a finalist to receive $1 million through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge.

$50,000 will support the development and tooling needed for Eugene-based Arcimoto to build an initial pre-production “pilot fleet”of its unique ultra-efficient three-wheeled electric vehicles.

$20,000 will support KersTech Vehicle Systems to design, build, and test KersTech’s high efficiency electric-hydraulic compound motor system in a small all-terrain vehicle suitable for use in agricultural settings.

Grants of $4,926 and $5,000, respectively, will support research projects by Professor Robert Bass at Portland State University and Professor Julia Zhang at Oregon State University. These special grants are designed to match awards under the “Small Starts” grant program of the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Center.

“This grant will help us meet the growing demand for people who are qualified to develop and maintain electric vehicles and other advanced transportation equipment,” said John McArdle, Development Director for the Linn-Benton Community College Foundation. “In addition to the funding itself, we value the connections we are making in Oregon’s growing electric vehicle industry cluster.”

Lester Erlston, CEO of KersTech, noted that his company plans to work with LBCC to conduct dynamometer testing of its compound motor using this new equipment.

Dexter Turner, CEO of OpConnect, explained how the grant will benefit both his company and the state as a whole. “The Bloomberg grant would be a huge win for Hillsboro and the state of Oregon. This grant funding will help us make our EV charging stations a part of this transportation technology that has a strong export potential,” said Turner.

Mark Frohnmayer, Founder and President of Arcimoto, echoed the cluster theme: “Oregon has a strong and growing network of companies making everything from advanced power electronics and software to metal parts, composites and next-generation battery materials,” explained Frohnmayer. ”This grant is great news for us, but also for our many Oregon-based suppliers and partners.”

Jeff Allen, Executive Director of Drive Oregon, noted that “Drive Oregon has previously paid out approximately $200,000 in matching grants, which have already leveraged over $2.1 million in additional investment. We expect even more impact from the grants we are announcing today, and we expect to announce our next grant application deadline by Summer 2013.”